Safe.



P. A. MEEHAN.

SAFE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-4, 1913.

1 1 64,95 1 Patented Dec. 21, 1915.

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By A Kim ways,

COLUMBIA PLANOIJRAPH 60.. WASHINGTON. D. c

P. A. MEEHAN.

SAFE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.4, 1913.

Patented Dec. 21, 1915.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2- o o o o o 0 k? o N O /(P o C o o H o 49' /6 k l m 1 67 V 20 2/ 3 INENTOR COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH 4:0,, WASHINGTON. D. c.

PATRICK A..1.IEEHAN, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

SAFE.

Specification of Letters'Pat'ent.

Patented Dec. 21, 1915.

Application filed August 4, 1913. Serial No. 782,861.

To allwhom it may concern: I,

Be it known that I, PATRICK A. MEEHAN, a citizen of the United States, residing in the borough of Brooklyn, county of Kings, city andpStateof New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Safes, ofwhi'ch the following is a specifica-- tion. A H

This invention relates to safes, and aims to provide improvements therein.

Safes are usually forcibly entered byborthe outer shell of the safe,

iiig a b016 in adjacent the of the building wherein the robbery is being carried out,- or the boring tool may be supported by achain passing around the safe.

The present invention provides a safe which avoids the foregoing objections eX- isting in ordinary'safes, and which it is impracticable or impossible to operate upon, particularly with boring tools. This is accomplished by providing means for keeping thesafe; or an enveloping sheath, in motion.

The invention also preferably comprises means for preventing a person from following the movements of the safe, or the safe is solocated as to accomplish "the same thing. I I

Several embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a bodiment of the invention; Fig. 2 a front elevation of another embodiment; Fig. 3 a front elevation of a third'embodiment; Fig. 4 a front elevation, withpartsin section of another embodiment; Fig. 5 a front elevalock, inserting an explosive therein, as nltroglycerin, andexploding the Safes are susceptible to being bored provided for giving a positive front elevation of one one-- tion with parts in section, of another embodlment; and Fig. 6 a sectional view of still another embodiment.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 6 of the drawings, numeral 1 designates any suitable safe, and 2 means for keeping the same in motion, the'safe being rotatably mounted'in suitable bearings 3.

The safe 1 may be of the usual square or rectangular shape, as shown in Fig. 1, or cylindrical, as shown in the remaining views, or, in fact, any other desired shape. The means 2 for keeping the safe in motion is preferably an electric motor supplied with current from any suitable source, but preferably from a reliable central station.

By reason of the movement of the safe a person desirous of breaking into the same will find it impracticable or impossible to work on the same, and consequently impracticable or impossible to accomplish his purpose of breakinginto the same. The speed of rotation can, of course, be varied as may be desired. Moreover, the obvious difliculty'of working on thesafe, and the uncertainties of what may be connected to the safe, will deter many who might otherwise attempt to break in. Furthermore, by loeating the safe in a window, or other prominent place, its motion will attract the attention of passers by, and will be an indication that its contents are intact.

Indicating means may also preferably be 7 indication of the movement of the safe. As shown in Figs. 1 andQ, this means may be in the form of a light 5 carried on the body of the safe, which light sends out a beam of light each time it passes a window or the like. As shown in Fig.3, this means may be in the form of a bell 6, which is struckby a striker 7 which is actuated by a projection on the safe each time the safe turns around. As shownin Figs. 3 and 6, this means may be in the form of a street sign 10, secretly connected to the safe, and intermittently illuminated, as by means of a commutator 11. In Fig. 3 current is supplied to the sign through a conductor 12', connected to one of the motor leads and tothe two brushes of the commutator, and a conductor 13 conwhat over the axis of rotation of the safe.

.nected to the other motor lead. In Fig; ,6,

current is supplied to the sign through a conductor connected through a-brush 16 the safe and connected by a conductor 18 through thebrushes of the commutatorll wlth one of the motor leads, and through a conductor l9,through brush 20 and conduc tor ring 21, to the other motor lead.

.Means are also preferably provided for preventing a person following} the movements of the safe, and for" preventing one from working upon the top of the safe. For

the purpose, as shown in Fig. I 2, the safe may be located in a niche or recess in a wall,

partially surrounding and extendingsome As shown in Fig. 3 a lattice-frame 26 or the like may be fixed so as to stand close to one: side of the safe and over the axis of rota-j tion. The lattice-frame is preferably wired and connected toa'closed circuit alarm 27 situated in any desired locality or station,

In either of these forms, a person attempting to follow the rotations ofthe safe willeither run into thelattice-frame, breaking the same and giving an alarm, or be swept aside by the wall in which the safe is embowered' Means are preferably provided for indieating any change in the motion of the safe,

as mightoccur by reason of an attempt be-v 7 ing made to break intoit, or to break the circuit from which the current is derived for energizing the motor. As shown in Figs 3, 4 and 6, this means may comprise an electric bell 30 setin operation by over-load and under-loadcut-outs 31 and 32 in one of the motor leads, which act-upon one or other of the contact devices 33, 34;, to complete a circuit through the bell.

In Fig. 4:, the safe 1 is shown stationary, being mounted I on a suitable pedestal 40.

41 designates a sheathsurrounding the safe,

and rotatably mounted, as in a bearing 42 attached to the ceiling of the room in which the safe is located. The sheath may be rotated around the safe by suitable means, as a motor ;2" similar to the motor 2 for rotating the safe 1 in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 6. A means,

similar to that illustrated in 3, may be providedfor giving an alarm wheneverthe motor 2 is tampered with. Thelmeans com- 32, in one of the motor leads, cooperating with contact devices 33, 34, in circuit with an electric bell 30. The safe-is preferably wired on itseXterior, as shown at 4A, and the wires connected to a closed-circuit alarm 45., The sheath 41 after the safe is closed, is kept rotating. If. a burglar should .stop the sheath from rotating, or disconnect the sheath from the motor 2, the speeding up or slowing down of the motor would operate one'of the cut-outs 31, 32, and actuate the alarm 30. If a person should bore through the sheath 4 -l, on reachin'gthe inside of the sheath, the boringat'ool "would come into contact with one of the wires 44;

and operate the alarm 45.

In Fig. 5 a constructi'onsimilar to Fig. 4

the motor through brushes 61,62 and con ductor rings 21,22, on the under side of the safe. The motor has an'alarm device, com

prising oven-load and underrload 'cut-outsin one of the leads thereof,fsimilar to that shown in Figs. 3 and 41-.

While I have shown and described several embodiments of the invention, it isnot to be understood as limited thereto, as theinvention is'capable of receivinga variety of me- 'chanical expressions, and many modifica'? tions and changes may be made in the embodiments shown without departing from v the spirit of the invention.

Vv hat I claim is 1. Iii-combination, a safe, and automatic means for keeping said safe in motion, the manner of movement as regards speed and continuity being such that during periods in which the safe is to perform its safeguarding functionforcible entry into the safe is rendered more difiicult than ina state of rest.

2. In combination, a safe, automatic means for keeping said safe in rotation during periods in which the safe is to perform its safeguarding function, whereby the safe is additionally secured by itsfmotion against Y for keeping said safe inrotation during pe' riods in which the safe is to perform its safeguarding function, wherebythe'safe is additionally secured by its motion against forcible entry, and a part 'inproximity to said safe extending over the axis on which said safe turns. I I

4. In combination, a safe, a part in proximity to said'safe, said safe and part having relative motion, and automatic means for producing such motion. '5. In combination, a'safe, a sheath surrounding saidsafe, saidsafeand sheath having relative motion during. periods in. which the safe is to perform its safeguarding functiom-wherebythe safe is additionally secured by its motion against forcible forcible entry, and a stationary part in proxsuch motion.

6. In combination, a safe, and automatic electrical means for keeping said safe in motlon, the manner of movement as regards speed and continuity being such that during I In Witness whereof, I have hereunto slgned my name 1n the presence of tWo sub- 1 scribing wltnesses.

PATRICK A. MEEI-IAN.

Witnesses:

GUsTAvE R. THOMPSON, FRED WHITE.

Copies of this'patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D; G. 

